Match-safe



(No Model.)

H. PLANDERS 8v C. E. STEARNS.

MATCH SAFE.

No. 593,353. Patented NOV. 9,1897.

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UNITED STATES HERBERT ELANDERS AND CHARLES E. STEARNS, oE

HAMPSHIRE. l

PATENT OEEICE.

MANCHESTER, NEW

MATCH-SAFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 593,353, dated November 9, 1897.

Application led February 20, 1897. Serial No. 624,416. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HERBERT FLANDERS and CHARLES E. STEARNS, residents of Manchester, in the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match- Safes; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will' enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to match-safes, and has for its object to increase their efficiency and simplify their construction; and it consists in the particulars hereinafter pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a central longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a partial section on line 2 2 of Fig. l.' Fig. 3

is a like view to Fig. l of a modification. Fig.

et is a plan thereof with cover removed, and Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Numeral l denotes a match safe or receptacle having a removable or hinged cover 2. The match-receptacle is made wider than the length of a match to allow a body or bunch of matches to lie in the same crosswise of the box and parallel with its bottom.

3 denotes an inclined back for the match' receptacle or hopper, having such inclination that matches, unless held therefrom, will roll freely down its surface. This back may extend obliquely across the box, as indicated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, to provide extra space for the heads of the matches and thereby diminish their average Variation from parallelism to the front end of the receptacle.

4 denotes a movable bottom, and '5 a suitable openin g inthe front safe-wall 6, through which the bottom may be drawn, and 7 is an opening for a similar purpose at the foot of the inclined back wall. The sliding bottom may be inclined a little below the horizontal plane on one side to provide space for the match-heads and keep the body of matches as nearly level as practicable, as indicatedin Figs. 4 and 5. j

8 denotes a bottom-returning sprin g secured to the sliding bottom and to the box in manner to be put under tension when the bottom is drawn out through the front of the box end and adapted when said bottom is released to retract it to its normal situation.

9 is a spring-catch secured on an extension 9 of the box-base 9", acting automatically to engage and hold the bottom when drawnout, and 10 is a button or thumb-piece for disengaging the catch to permit the spring to operate.

10 indicates a match-holding groove having a vertical or nearly-vertical front wall and a sloping rear wall.

ll is awider groove with inclined Walls situated in the rear of groove l0' and adapted, in combination with the inclined back, to facilitate the introduction of a match into said latter groove. The rear groove obviates the formation of an arch of matches at the foot of the inclined back and stirs them in a manner to insure that a match shall be dropped or pushed into groove 10'. Both grooves are carried under the foot of the inclined hopper-back when the bottom is retracted by the spring, and if groove 10 is not charged with a match at this time it receives one when the bottom is slid forward. The foot of the front wall 6 is curved inwardly and provided with a thin edge 6', so that the match in the groove is separated from those above and the latter prevented from wedging the said match in a corner.

The sliding bottom is recessed or out away at one or both ends of the match-groove l0', as shown at 12 and l2', to facilitate grasping the match between the thumb and finger. If but one recess is provided, it will be situated, preferably, on the right-hand side, the view being toward the front of the box, so that the match can be grasped by the lingers of the right hand. In such case the matches will be placed so that their heads lie on the other side and so that the foot of the match will be presented at l2.

13 denotes a friction-surface provided in the bottom of the groove.

In operation the bottom is drawn out, and being engaged by the spring-stop, in case one is provided, it is automatically held, whereupon a match can be seized and ignited by simply withdrawing it, its head being suitably pressed upon the bottom of the groove.

IOO

The bottom being released from the catch, or` A from the head in case no catch is employed, is retracted by theV spring and groove 10 again charged with a match, if not during the rel treat then when the bottom is again drawn match-groove, the bottom being cut away at the end of the groove to facilitate grasping it and an igniting-su rface in the groove,substan tially as described.

3. Ina match-safe, the slotted front` and rear Walls, the grooved sliding bottom, the retracting-spring and the spring-catch all in combination, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT FLANDERS.

CHARLES E. STEARNS. y

Vitnesses:

A. W. MORGAN, `HARRY E. LOVEREN. 

